(CNN) — Dave Chappelle addressed several contentious issues in his recent “Saturday Night Live” monologue, focusing primarily on Kanye West’s anti-Semitic comments.
In his lengthy monologue, Chappelle mentioned former President Donald Trump and Senate candidate Herschel Walker, and may also have been alluding to the backlash to comments he has made about transgender people.
Before beginning his routine, he unfolded a small piece of paper and read it: “‘I denounce anti-Semitism in all its forms. And I stand in solidarity with my friends in the Jewish community.’ And that, Kanye, is how you buy time.”
On the subject of West, Chappelle said he normally reached out to the rapper when West was embroiled in controversy, but this time, Chappelle said, he waited to watch the response to West’s anti-Semitic remarks. Chappelle also joked that “Kanye got into so much trouble that Kyrie got into trouble,” referring to the NBA star who was suspended by the Brooklyn Nets for comments after sharing a link to an anti-Semitic film on social media.
Chappelle said he could see West “embrace the illusion that Jews run show business”, saying that “it’s not a crazy thing to think about, but it’s a crazy thing to say out loud in a climate like this.”
He continued: “I know the Jewish people have been through terrible things all over the world, but you can’t blame it on black Americans. You just can’t.”
Dave Chappelle Monologue!
Part 1 pic.twitter.com/cSpm6EtCCy— Saturday Night Live – SNL (@nbcsnl) November 13, 2022
In an apparent nod to the backlash some comedians receive when audiences find their jokes offensive, Chappelle ended the monologue by admitting to the audience that he no longer enjoyed performing in front of large crowds, saying that “it shouldn’t be so scary to talk about anything, It makes my job incredibly difficult.”
“I hope they don’t take anything from me,” he said. “Whoever they are.”
Chappelle has made explicit comments about trans women’s bodies and the genderlessness of trans people in several stand-up specials released in recent years. Criticism of her comments escalated rapidly in 2021 following the release of her multi-million dollar Netflix special, The Closerwhich offended LGBTQ advocates and led some Netflix employees to protest the company and demand that the special be removed.
Netflix defended the special, which was subsequently nominated for two Emmys. Chappelle addressed criticism on tour shortly after the release of his special, telling audiences about him that he was willing to talk to trans critics, but that he would not “bow to anyone’s demands.”
